This summer, United Way of Horry County launched Camp United in partnership with Horry County Schools. Camp United was made possible through the United Way of Horry County by a grant from Tidelands Health and the Waccamaw Community Foundation.
Camp United included transportation to and from Loris Elementary School, breakfast, lunch, books, and all supplies needed. The curricula for Camp United was approved by Horry County Schools. Teachers from Horry County Schools instructed students with a focus on reading, writing, and math skills. Teachers also reviewed social and emotional structures and strategies that can often impede academic success in struggling learners.
What was the need for Camp United?
Camp United is for rising 1st and 2nd grade Loris Elementary Schools students who are not meeting their math and reading goals. Camp United is the only summer program in Horry County that focuses on this age group in reading, writing, and math skills.
56% of 1st-grade students are not on track for success in English language arts in 2nd grade.
*Horry County Schools Report Card
Children who cannot read at grade level by the end of 3rd grade are 4 times less likely to graduate from high school.
*Annie E. Casey Foundation
Camp United was not mandatory to attend. However, all selected students attended regularly. Of the 37 students, 17 were rising 1st graders and 20 were rising 2nd graders.
What impact did Camp United have?
At United Way of Horry County, one of our main impact areas is Education. We want to help prevent the summer slide. The summer slide is a tendency for students to lose knowledge in reading and math over the summer break from the previous school year. Horry County students should be able to meet their educational goals and be on track with their grade level. We have developed Camp United to help students reach their full educational potential.
Children’s test scores from the end of year DIBELS (Dynamic Indicator of Basic Early Literacy Skills) and Math MAP (Measures of Academic Progress) assessments were used as baseline indicators. All students were tested the last week of camp.
The average student’s math growth went up 21 percentile points throughout the 4-week camp. Because all students attend Loris Elementary School, we will be able to continue to monitor their progress.
View our full impact report on Camp United here:
